Page 28 of Trick

I need to get back on my feet. There are still three more hits to be taken: Terror, Howler, and Rage.

I don’t expect leniency from any of them, especially not Rage, but I don’t know how I’m going to survive the next few minutes.

My gut is on fire, and I want to puke, but I swallow it down. I won’t show weakness, not at a time when they need me to be strong.

I peer up at Rage, who is standing with Hawk and Terror. The smirk on his face tells me everything I need to know about the hit he’s going to land. Cold spreads over my burning flesh.

It’s the sight of his smug fucking grin that forces me to get back to my feet. My body trembles beneath my weight, as if I’m carrying a ten-tonne rock on my shoulders.

Just three more hits. I can do this.

I run my tongue over my bloodied teeth. “Are you doing this or not?” I demand.

He steps up to me, getting in my face. “Oh, I’m doing it, but this doesn’t change a fucking thing between us.”

“Rage,” Howler snaps his name, but it doesn’t wipe the smirk off his face.

“This is for my old lady, you piece of shit.”

Rage rubs his hands together before he rams his fist into my gut. The pain is so blinding, I black out for a moment, and when I come to, I’m on the floor, face down, trying to breathe.

I have to get up.

If I stay down, I lose. I only have two more hits. I have to get up.

The room rolls around me before I can so much as twitch, and saliva floods my mouth. I barely turn my head to the side before my stomach convulses and I vomit everywhere.

Hands skim over me. I’m not sure if they’re trying to help or trying to hurt me, but I’m too out of it to fight them off.

There is a dull roar in my ears and my head throbs in time with my racing pulse. My ears are full, like there’s cotton stuffed inside them. I close my eyes, trying to calm my adrenaline as it floods my body.

Howler fills my vision suddenly, bending down in front of me, concern on his face. “You still have two more hits to take. Can you do it?”

I have to.

Trembling, I bob my head, forcing my hands under me to get to my knees. Everything rolls around me before it levels out. I can’t stand, and I don’t try to.

“Just do it,” I grind out past my fat lip and swollen jaw.

Terror steps up to me, his brows drawn together. “You really are a dumb fucker,” he mutters before he hits me in the face.

I’m grateful he does because I don’t think my gut can take any more. He doesn’t hit me lightly, though, putting enough force behind it to make it hurt.

The pain melds into the other injuries screaming at me. I barely feel it, unable to separate where one agony starts and another ends.

Howler is last, and while I really want to be on my feet for this, I know realistically there is no chance of me standing.

There’s a peace that comes with this beatdown. Every pain reminds me that as numb as I was in the months when I was hunting Pioneers, I am still alive. I can rise out of the ashes of this. I can reclaim my place in the club, and I can be a good father.

My arms rest in my lap as I peer up at Howler.

“I’m sorry,” I say, giving my president the apology he deserves.

“I know you are,” he mutters. “But you disrespected this club through your actions. You put your brothers and their families in danger, and you disregarded the code we live by. As soon as I give you this last hit, any further grievances against you will be brought directly to me.”

I bob my head. “Do it.”

Howler sighs. “I’m glad you decided to come back to us, Trick, but if you ever disobey me again, I’ll fuckin’ kill you.”

---